Title: Procedural code integration in streaming environments Author: Mgr. Michal Brabec Department: Department of Software Engineering Supervisor: David Bednárek, Ph.D. Abstract: Streaming environments and similar parallel platforms are widely used in image, signal, or general data processing as means of achieving high perfor- mance. Unfortunately, they are often associated with domain specific program- ming languages, and thus hardly accessible for non-experts. In this work, we present a framework for transformation of a procedural code to a streaming ap- plication. We selected a restricted version of the C# language as the interface for our system, because it is widely taught and many programmers are familiar with it. This approach will allow creating streaming applications or their parts using a widely known imperative language instead of the intricate languages specific to streaming. The transformation process is based on the Hybrid Flow Graph - a novel inter- mediate code which employs the streaming paradigm and can be further convert- ed into streaming applications. The intermediate code shares the features and limitations of the streaming environments, while representing the applications without platform specific technical details, which allows us to use well known graph algorithms to work with the...

Background: With the increasing older adult population, new graduate nurses will be providing care for patients with dementia more frequently and should be supported to care for this population during their transition period. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis was to explore the experiences of new graduate nurses providing care for patients with dementia in acute care environments. Methods: An interpretive descriptive qualitative study explored eleven Ontario new graduate nurses’ experiences providing dementia care in acute care environments. A thematic analysis was conducted. Findings: The thematic analysis resulted in three themes and several sub-themes: building of vision and values, clash of vision and values, and “make do with what you have”. Discussion and Conclusion: Facilitators to providing dementia care in acute care were supportive colleagues and early exposure to dementia care. The barriers identified were similar to the barriers experienced by nurses in the literature.

A dificuldade dos estudantes em relação à aprendizagem de Algoritmos é um assunto que se renova, devido à grande demanda de mercado em relação a profissionais da área de Tecnologia da Informação. A complexidade na construção do raciocínio lógico e do Pensamento Computacional leva a altos índices de evasão e reprovação em disciplinas introdutórias de programação. A concepção tradicional no ensino de Algoritmos possui grandes desafios, da elaboração de materiais interessantes, que estimulem o aluno a resolver problemas, até o uso de novas tecnologias, a fim de motivar o discente em um ambiente dinâmico. Entendendo essas circunstâncias, esta tese tem como foco propor uma concepção diferenciada para o processo de ensino de Algoritmos, caracterizada por uma prática pedagógica baseada na integração de ambientes imersivos a paradigmas de programação, diferentes dos comumente utilizados em sala de aula. Os resultados alcançados com esta proposta mostraram que as características de interação e imersão, proporcionadas pelo mundo virtual, aliadas a ferramentas de programação em blocos visuais, motivam e estimulam a atenção dos alunos, tornando-os protagonistas no desenvolvimento de seus saberes sobre algoritmos e programação. Estas afirmações estão calcadas na observação dos experimentos realizados, com base na metodologia de ensino proposta, consolidados a partir de uma inferência estatística apurada sobre os resultados dos alunos na disciplina de Algoritmos e programação nos três semestres avaliados e, por uma análise detalhada sobre a evolução destes estudantes durante todas as atividades da última etapa do estudo. Estas análises mostraram efetivamente a evolução dos estudantes, tanto na construção do raciocínio lógico, quanto na melhoria do seu desempenho acadêmico. / Difficulties of students towards learning algorithms are a topic that is being renewed constantly, due to the large market demand in relation to professionals in the field of Information Technology. The complexity in the construction of logical reasoning and Computational Thinking leads to high rates of evasion and failure in introductory programming courses. Traditional concept in teaching algorithms has great challenges, since the development of interesting materials that encourage students to solve problems, until to the use of new technologies in order to motivate the students in a dynamic environment. Understanding these circumstances, this thesis focuses on proposing a different design to the process of teaching algorithms, characterized by a pedagogical practice based on the integration of immersive environments with programming paradigms, different from those commonly used in the classroom. The results obtained with this proposal showed that the interaction and immersion features offered by the virtual world, combined with programming tools in visual blocks, motivate and stimulate student's attention, making them protagonists in developing their knowledge about algorithms and programming. These statements are justified by the observation of experiments conducted, based on the proposed teaching methodology, consolidated from a statistical inference calculated on the results of the students in the discipline of algorithms and programming in three semesters evaluated, and, for a detailed analysis of the evolution of these students during all activities of the last stage of the study. These analyzes showed effectively the progress of students, both in the construction of logical reasoning and in improving their academic performance.

Tradicionalmente, para que um layout possa ser avaliado, devem-se enfocar fatores de proximidade e de adjacência, já que os mesmos aumentam a eficiência da movimentação de materiais, o que reduz custos operacionais. Adicionalmente, se sugere acrescentar robustez, flexibilidade, suficiência e utilização do espaço a esses fatores. Nesta tese se apresenta uma sistemática de avaliação e melhoria da flexibilidade de layout em ambientes dinâmicos. Mais explicitamente, propõe-se mensurar os habilitadores de flexibilidade de um layout, ou seja, que o torna capaz de reagir às incertezas externas e internas que surgem à medida que mudam as necessidades futuras da produção. A sistemática proposta é desenvolvida em dez etapas, as quais partem de matrizes semelhantes as do Quality Function Deployment (QFD) para verificar o impacto de fatores de proximidade de departamentos, de utilização de área e de associação com outros tipos de flexibilidade de manufatura na flexibilidade de layout. A tese também traz uma proposta de análise reversa do QFD para comparar o que está realmente sendo valorado pela instalação ao ponderar os indicadores medidos. As proposições apresentadas são ilustradas em um caso prático de uma empresa do setor metal mecânico, representado pela sistemática, pelos índices de flexibilidade de layout e pelos direcionamentos de melhoria. / In the traditional evaluation of layouts emphasis is placed on factors such as proximity and adjacency, as they increase materials handling efficiency, reducing operational costs. It is usually recommended to consider additional factors in the analysis, such as robustness, flexibility, sufficiency and use of space. In this dissertation we propose a method to evaluate and improve layout flexibility in dynamic environments. More explicitly, we propose measuring the enablers of a layout that are capable of reacting to external and internal uncertainties that arise as production needs change. The proposed method is implemented in ten stages. We start using matrices similar to those in the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method to measure the impact of proximity between departments, use of production space, and association with other types of manufacturing flexibility on layout flexibility. The thesis also presents a proposition where the traditional QFD analysis is performed in reverse. The propositions presented are illustrated in a case study from the metal component processing sector.

Orientador: Lucila Chebel Labaki / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T19:58:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Voltani_EderRicardo_M.pdf: 1781580 bytes, checksum: 4e5a97494a32fe55f6e8a82e215edab3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Os métodos Predicted Mean Vote ¿ PMV e Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied ¿ PPD foram desenvolvidos por Ole Fanger e significaram um expressivo avanço nos estudos sobre avaliação de conforto térmico. No ano de 1984 estes métodos foram adotados pela International Organization for Standardization ¿ ISO como base da norma 7730. No entanto, diversas pesquisas foram realizadas com o objetivo de encontrar a sensação térmica para pessoas expostas a diferentes combinações das variáveis ambientais e pessoais, pois existiam alguns questionamentos a respeito da aplicabilidade desta norma em campo e para diferentes regiões climáticas. Dessa forma, esta pesquisa tem por objetivo obter informações para a análise da aplicabilidade do modelo PMV/PPD da norma ISO 7730 (2005) como meio de avaliação do conforto térmico em ambientes de trabalhos industriais, onde a atividade seja leve ou moderada. Esta pesquisa foi desenvolvida nas indústrias de calçado feminino da região de Jaú, SP. Quanto à metodologia, foram obtidos os dados da temperatura do ar, umidade relativa, velocidade relativa do ar e temperatura radiante média, conforme recomendações da norma ISO 7726 (1998). O isolamento térmico das vestimentas e as taxas de metabolismo foram estimados por meio de valores referenciais de tabelas das normas ISO 9920 (1995) e ISO 8996 (1990), respectivamente. Para calcular os valores de PMV e PPD foi utilizado o Software Conforto 2.03. Os votos de Sensação e Preferência Térmica foram obtidos através de um questionário aplicado junto à população pesquisada. Com o desenvolvimento de análises de Regressão Simples e Probit, foi possível encontrar a zona de conforto térmico da população pesquisada, comparar a correlação, temperatura de neutralidade e a porcentagem de pessoas insatisfeitas entre os votos obtidos dos trabalhadores com os resultados dos cálculos do PMV/ PPD. Através de simulações foi possível identificar que a interpretação das atividades desenvolvidas, o tipo de questionário aplicado e o controle das respostas da população provocam desvios de 8%, 12% e 7,6%, respectivamente, nos resultados da correlação entre os votos das sensações térmicas e os resultados do calculo de PMV. Por meio da análise Probit dos votos de sensação e preferência térmica da população com 1,4 met foi possível obter a temperatura de neutralidade de 23,35 °C, com 84,5% da população em conforto térmico e 15,5% em desconforto térmico. Conforme cálculo de PMV, para as mesmas condições, a temperatura de neutralidade é 22,4 °C / Abstract: The methods Predicted Mean Vote ¿ PMV and Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied ¿ PPD were developed by Ole Fanger and represent a meaningful advance in studies about assessment of thermal comfort. In 1984 these methods were adopted by the International Organization for Standardization -ISO as the basis for standard 7730. However, several researches were made with the purpose of finding the thermal sensation of people exposed to different combinations of environmental and personal variables because of some questionings regarding its applicability in field and in different climatic regions. Therefore, the aim of this work has been to collect information for the analysis of the applicability of the PMV/PPD methods in the standard ISO 7730 (2005), as a means to evaluate thermal comfort in industrial work environment with light sedentary or moderate activity. The research was carried out in female shoe-making industries in the region of Jaú, State of São Paulo. The adopted methodology was defined as follows: data collecting of air temperature, relative humidity, the relative air velocity, and mean radiant temperature, according to the recommendations of ISO 7726 (1998). The clothing insulation and the metabolic rates were estimated by means of the referential value tables in ISO 9920 (1995) and ISO 8996 (1990), respectively. The Comfort Software 2.03 was used to calculate the PMV and the PPD values. Questionnaires were applied among the workers with questions involving the personnel vote for the Thermal Sensation and Preferences. By running the analyses of Simple Regression and Probit, is was possible to compare the correlation between the temperature of neutrality and the percentage of dissatisfied people amongst the personnel votes to the outcomes of the PMV/PPD figures. Through simulations it was possible to identify that the interpretation of activities, the type of questionnaire applied and the control of the responses of the population caused deviations of 8%, 12% and 7.6%, respectively, in the results of the correlation between the votes for thermal sensations and the results of the calculation of PMV. The analyses Probit with the votes of sensation and thermal preference of people with activity 1.4 met the temperature of neutrality was 23.35 °C, with 84.5% of population in comfort and 15.5% in thermal discomfort. As for the calculation of PMV, in the same conditions, the temperature of neutrality is 22.4 °C / Mestrado / Arquitetura e Construção / Mestre em Engenharia Civil

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第18347号 / 農博第2072号 / 新制||農||1024(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H26||N4854(農学部図書室) / 31205 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科応用生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 左子 芳彦, 教授 澤山 茂樹, 准教授 吉田 天士 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

Recently, health researchers have become interested in "eco-friendly" or "green" healthcare. One of the current trends in the green healthcare movement involves incorporating natural elements into health care settings to promote the health of patients and healthcare workers. Research based on Restorative Environments Theory (RET) provides insight into the rationale behind incorporating nature into the healthcare setting. RET posits that pleasant natural environments help promote stress recovery by increasing positive affect, decreasing negative affect, and reducing physiological arousal. However, the components of this theory have not been sufficiently tested using a controlled laboratory environment. The purpose of the present study was to provide a more rigorous test of RET than what is currently found in the literature by using a controlled laboratory- based design. Undergraduates from the University of South Florida were randomly assigned to view 1) no images, 2) neutral, non-nature images, 3) pleasant, non-nature images, or 4) pleasant, nature images during recovery from an anger recall task. Overall, the results of the present study did not demonstrate support for RET. There were no group differences in recovery time for any of the physiological variables with the exception of TPR. Those in the pleasant, non-nature condition took longest to recover. Further, there were no group differences in affect ratings with the exception of positive affect, which was higher for those in the no-image control condition. From an evidence-based practice framework, this study suggests that additional empirical support is needed before RET is used as a foundation to justify widespread adoption of nature-based interventions using media presentation to represent the natural environment.

Hazard assessment of pesticides in aquatic environments requires accurate predictions of persistence and compartmentalization. A strategy for developing confidence in predictive fate models, such as the Exposure Analysis Modeling System (EXAMS) and the Simplified Lake and Stream Analysis model (SLSA), is to test the models using carefully chosen chemicals in semi-controlled and field situations. An objective of this approach would be to isolate the variability in a particular fate process and thereby assess the ability of an algorithm to model the process. For example, endothall, a relatively watersoluble aquatic herbicide, has essentially a sole fate process, biotransformation. Endothall was used to test the predictive capabilities of EXAMS and SLSA and to identify sources of variance in those predictions.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Computer Science / William H. Hsu / The contribution of the proposed dissertation is the application of affective intelligence in human-developed spaces where people live, work, and recreate daily, also known as built environments. Built environments have been known to influence and impact individual affective responses. The implications of built environments on human well-being and mental health necessitate the need to develop new metrics to measure and detect how humans respond subjectively in built environments. Detection of arousal in built environments given biometric data and environmental characteristics via a machine learning-centric approach provides a novel and new capability to measure human responses to built environments. Work was also conducted on experimental design methodologies for multiple sensor fusion and detection of affect in built environments. These contributions include exploring new methodologies in applying supervised machine learning algorithms, such as logistic regression, random forests, and artificial neural networks, in the detection of arousal in built environments. Results have shown a machine learning approach can not only be used to detect arousal in built environments but also for the construction of novel explanatory models of the data.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / There are approximately 10³¹ bacteriophages in the biosphere, outnumbering bacteria 10:1, hence, the dynamic and specific nature of phage-host interactions exerts significant influence on microbial communities. Bacteriophages also represent the reservoir of the highest known genetic diversity making them a potential source of novel biotechnological products. However, the isolation of novel bacteriophages is limited by the observation that less than 1% of bacterial hosts have been cultured. This study aimed to bypass this problem by developing novel culture independent approaches to improve our ability to isolate novel phage-host pairs. Samples were collected from an abandoned copper prospecting site near the Gobabeb Desert Research and Training Station and a Salt lake located in the Swakopmund region of the Namibian desert. Two approaches were explored in this study namely viral tagging and reverse metaviromics. For viral tagging, fluorescently labelling the environmental phage fraction before challenging the environmental bacterial fraction with tagged phages proved difficult. This was most likely due to the complex interaction of the labelling agent with phages and requires further studies. For the reverse metaviromics approach, total DNA from the environmental phage fractions was extracted, sequenced and analyzed for novel phages. Analysis of the phage diversity showed that the copper site was dominated by tailed viruses as has been shown for other extreme arid environments. However, the saline site was atypical of marine environments, with tailed viruses being the most abundant, suggesting that the diversity present is not only driven by salinity. Using the metaviromic sequence data to guide the selection of potential bacterial hosts, two strategies were employed. In the first, putative hosts were predicted based on similarity of phage sequences to those identified in databases. Media targeting these specific genera were employed, 8 bacterial species were isolated and based on 16S rRNA similarity to the closest known species were identified as Halomonas caseinilytica, Halomonas eurihalina, Halomonas sinaiensis, Idiomarina loihiensis, Marinobacter xestospongiae, Virgibacillus salarius and two Salinivibrio species. The 16S rRNA analysis also suggested that H. sinaiensis, V. salarius and both Salinivibrio species are novel. All 8 isolates were challenged with the environmental phage fraction. A novel phage, SMHB1, was isolated on one of the Salinivibrio spp. and is only the second characterized phage ever described for this genus. SMHB1 is a 32 kb myovirus, with a head diameter of 56 nm, and a tail length of 106 nm. The second approach involved the design of fluorescently labelled probes targeting phages identified from the metaviromic sequence data. In a control E. coli system to detect cloned phage DNA fragments, 87% of the interrogated cells showed significant hybridization of the phage specific probe to the target. The optimized method was applied to a simulated environmental bacterial fraction and a detection limit of 1:100 was observed for the bacteria containing the phage DNA fragment of interest. This study demonstrates the possibility of improving the specificity of isolating phage-host pairs in a culture-independent manner by incorporating sequence data in the experimental design; and contributes to our knowledge of the phage diversity of an understudied extreme environment.